But for a pair of bogeys on 17 and 18, Dean Burmester had a great start to the PGA Championship on Thursday. And even despite those dropped shots, the South African is well in the mix after an opening one-under at Southern Hills Country Club.
While Rory McIlroy produced one of his best opening rounds in recent major championships with his five-under-par 65 to lead by one from Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge, Burmester made a birdie on five, and then two more after the turn on 11 and 13 to make a big impression on a course that rewarded big hitters off the tee like him. He was in a share of 16th.
Burmester was immense off the tee in the opening round, averaging just short of 384 yards. On the 13th, he unleashed a 395-yard monster, too. He was pretty straight as well, hitting 11 of 14 fairways.
His first bogey came when he missed the 17th green long, and he was unable to get up and down to save par. He missed the 18th green right on a day during which he hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation. His chip ended up inside seven feet and he missed the par putt.
“It’s unfortunate with the finish, but overall I’m super chuffed the way it went,” said Burmester. “I’ve been known to be a little emotional. But luckily I’ve got some lunch before I head out and practice so I’ll sit and have some good lunch and assess everything, and I think I’ll be doing a little bit of putting.”
Burmester credited practice rounds with the likes of Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, as well as advice from Nick Price and Retief Goosen for feeling as comfortable as he did around the course. “I stepped on the first tee and I just felt right at home,” he said. “It kind of reminds me of a course back in South Africa up in Johannesburg. Obviously not Bermuda grass; we play kikuyu out there.
“But knowing I was comfortable off the tees and being able to hit the golf shots, then it was easy. It was just trying to figure out where I leave my golf ball on the greens and what shots I want to leave myself coming in.”
Next best of the South Africans was Shaun Norris on one-over in a share of 38th. That was a position he shared with Justin Harding and Schwartzel.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded a three-over 73 to share 78th with, amongst others, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. Garrick Higgo and Daniel van Tonder were in a share of 99th on four-over, with Erik van Rooyen another shot back in a share of 114th. Oliver Bekker battled his way to an eight-over 78 and was down in 138th.
